Entrepreneur Expose attendees talking businessLet's get this party started: resources for start-ups

Every Friday we're going to cover the benefits of familiarizing yourself with business groups, an important tool ignored by many entrepreneurs. Agencies, organizations and networks function largely as information clearinghouses, whether they are state, federal, local or non-profit. Often these organizations have been created specifically to help start-up businesses grow, making them a repository for a wealth of valuable information. In the case of state and federal agencies, immediate answers to common questions can often be found on their web sites or through a simple phone call, potentially saving you a lot of time and hassle. Through time, these agencies have been streamlined to provide the best generalized information as quickly and easily as possible, making them a potentially valuable resource for smart entrepreneurs.

While local and non-profit groups may not immediately spring to mind as resources, smart entrepreneurs know that such small groups are often the best places to network or get hands-on help. However, with the vast number of groups available from the federal to local level, finding the right group to address your needs can be an overwhelming task which quickly eats away at your limited free time. Rather than have you miss out on help needed to build your dream, we're going to focus on groups which provide value and ease of use for start-ups. We'll let you know which groups we have found to be the most helpful, what they provide and why we feel it had excellent value.

And as always, should readers have suggestions for any groups they found to be especially helpful, please tell us about it. The best stories and recommendations will be featured on this blog, as well as our site www.entrepreneurexpose.com .